Congress takes complaint to CEO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 14 2024: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has filed a complaint with the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) seeking strict action against some unknown persons for threatening and firing blank shots at a meeting venue at Moirang Phairembam.

The written complaint was submitted to the CEO yesterday by MPCC president K Meghachandra and ICC's Manipur in-charge Girish Chodankar.

MPCC president K Meghachandra said INC's Lok Sabha candidate Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam was to take part in an interaction programme at Moirang Phairembam on April 12 when some men wielding guns fired shots and disrupted the programme.

He said the interaction programme was scheduled to be held at a Mandap at Moirang Phairembam Leikai.

The interaction programme was organised under the guidance of ex-MLA P Sarat and at around 3.30 pm, some 400-500 people were gathered at the venue.

However, some persons came and threatened the organisers and the public against convening the programme.

The unknown persons told the crowd to disperse and fired shots in the air.

People were running for their lives, said the complaint filed with the CEO.

K Meghachandra said a similar interaction programme was held in the afternoon at Kwakta and Dr Bimol was to attend the programme at Moirang Phairembam.

AICC's Manipur in-charge Girish Chodankar, MPCC president K Meghachandra, CLP leader Okram Ibobi, Deputy CLP leader MLA K Ranjit and MLA Th Lokeshwar among other party leaders were to attend the interaction programme, he said.

"Congress party takes the incident very seriously and has sought appropriate action from the CEO against the unknown persons," said Meghachandra.

The Congress party has also requested the CEO to treat all valley areas as hypersensitive zones and take up immediate security measures by deploying Central armed police personnel in all valley areas of Manipur, he said.

The MPCC president further clarified that the Congress party, considering the volatile situation in the State, had taken a decision to not hold any big public meetings.

As per the decision taken, the party has not held any big meetings related to the elections, he added.

"The interaction programme at Moirang Phairembam was scheduled to introduce Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam to the locals.

It was a small and simple event.

Congress vehemently condemns the unknown persons threatening the public and the organisers, and firing of shots to cause fear," said Meghachandra.

He asserted that the incident was a clear example of "lawlessness" in Manipur.

As the State Government has failed to control the law and order, the ensuing elections will not be a free and fair affair, he said.

The complaint, he said, was filed urging the CEO to take strict action against the culprits and ensure free and fair elections in Manipur.

In another incident on April 12 night, some masked men threatened family members of Shiv Sena (UBT) Manipur president Toijam Debanand Singh against campaigning for Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam.

The masked men came in two Bolero vehicles and a Swift car without number plates at the residence of Toijam Debanand at Kyamgei, Imphal East in the night.

While destroying some documents and causing fear, they threatened the family members and told them not to campaign for INC and INDIA Bloc candidate Dr Bimol.

In connection with the incident, State Shiv Sena (UBT) has filed a complaint with the CEO Manipur.

Comment